Archiwa #Retro - Rafal Bartoszak

Brda 13U calculator, which does not exist

When searching the internet for information about the Brda 13U calculator, you may come across comments claiming that such a device never existed. This is a rather strange opinion, since it’s not that difficult to find photos of this calculator. Of course, there aren’t many of them, since the device itself was produced in fairly limited quantities, but this clearly indicates that the Unitra Brda 13U was a real piece of equipment created during the communist era in Poland.

The mysterious electronic module and the first Soviet integrated circuits

Microelectronics / By Rafal

In the package with electronic equipment from Mr. Marek, apart from an interesting Intel chip, which was mentioned in an article some time ago, there was also a mysterious module, and that is what we will focus on today.

Miniature clock with retro integrated circuit

Electronics / By Rafal

Rumor has it that the only silicon structures that Polish engineers interfered with were clock circuits. It is difficult to confirm this, however, as it is known that factories in communist Poland produced silicon from ready-made designs, but not much is known about our native designs. At that time, technologies of this type were quite well protected, but who knows, there is a grain of truth in every rumor. Miniature clock with a retro integrated circuit

Электроника 22-01 – Soviet travel clock

Retro / By Rafal

Today, few people remember such a thing as travel watches anymore, although those in the days before the spread of cell phones were readily used. One such device was the Soviet design Электроника 22-01 (Elektornika 22-10), which we will take a closer look at in this article.

The display that turned out to be more

Microelectronics / By Rafal

Browsing popular auction sites, I once came across an offer for a display similar to those manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s. It was described as our indigenous CEMI design, although the “NN” logo, denoting National Semiconductor, was visible on the board. Of course, this type of design was produced in communist Poland, although not on a large scale, it is much more common to find displays from Czechoslovakia, where production volumes were larger. So, I think one can forgive the seller’s marketing gaffe of labeling the element as a CEMI production, although this is also some misrepresentation. Nevertheless, the price of the item was quite low, so I decided to order it, and in this article I will tell you about its construction and the adventures of trying to get it to work.

Soviet VFD lamp controller

Electronics / By Rafal

Some time ago on one of the popular auction sites I noticed a rather interesting offer. It was a module of unknown origin with a small VFD lamp, which I suspect was the seller’s main motivation to get rid of it. After all, fluorescent designs sell quite well, though not as well as Nixie lamps. …

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PRIVILEG Modell 802 – Calculator from the former West Germany

Retro / By Rafal

During the communist era, the dream of many people was to own electronic equipment from the West. Acquiring the coveted computer equipment was downright impossible, but equipment such as calculators and audio systems were somehow obtainable. Today we will take a closer look at one such design. The Privileg Modell 802, as it is referred …

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Электроника МКУ-1 – Soviet school calculator

Retro / By Rafal

The story of our today’s hero begins in 1987. It is then that the electronic equipment factory in Svetlovodsk (today’s Ukraine) leaves the first calculator Электроника МКУ-1 (Elektronika MKU-1). The device was the result of an idea by officials of the Central Planning Bureau and was designed with a specific purpose in mind – the equipment was to serve high school and college students of the Soviet Union. It would enable them to solve even complex mathematical equations much more quickly and simply.

Электроника МК-52 – Soviet calculator in orbit

Retro / By Rafal

The great events of the space industry not only capture our attention, but also inspire us to think about the achievements of science and technology. One of the fascinating aspects of the conquest of space is the role that technology has played in these spectacular achievements. However, in the shadow of the famous rockets, astronauts and space stations, there are little-known elements of this space history, such as the Soviet Электроника МК-52 calculator.